Care Connection focuses on dementia caregiving

Care Connection for Aging Services is focusing on dementia caregivers’ training during National Family Caregivers Month in November.

The agency’s Family Caregiver Program is seeking participants for a caregiver education program that provides practical advice and support for caregivers of people with dementia.

Topics include: daily care, everyday activities, anxiety, injury prevention, safety, anger issues, meals, bladder and bowel problems, self-care, communication, sleep, bathing, wandering, transferring, brain health, driving and balancing work with caregiving.   

Participants will learn at their own pace with either printed materials or online. Pre- and post-surveys will measure the program’s success. The information is targeted to caregivers of adults who are newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or other dementia, as well as struggling caregivers who need a boost.

“The program is aimed at making the life of the caregiver a little bit easier,” said Marilyn Gunter, Director of Care Management for Care Connection. “We want to reduce physical and emotional stress that comes with caregiving.”

For the caregivers’ training, a Care Connection Care Manager will evaluate the needs of the person with dementia and the caregiver; provide information about the disease; consider potential safety risks and offer appropriate safety assistive devices; and work with the caregiver to develop a care plan so that the person with dementia may stay at home as long as possible.

Care Connection is partnering with the Missouri Association of Area Agencies on Aging to provide this service as part of a federal grant through the Missouri Department of Health and  Senior Services.

If you want to participate or find out more, call the Care Manager at your nearest senior center or call Marilyn Gunter at 1-800-748-7826.

Bates and Vernon counties: Artricia Lowry, 417-667-5847 in Nevada and 660-679-5830 in Butler.

Cedar County: Katie Hunter, 417-876-5574 in El Dorado Springs and 417-276-5306 in Stockton.

Hickory and St. Clair counties: Melanie Foster, 417-646-8292 in Osceola and 417-282-6100 in Wheatland.